Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-12-29
Joe Phillins EXPLAINS.

In a long letter to The Sentinel, written
from his Canadian abode, j. +. Phillips
lives his version Of the reason that
prompted him to skip across the border
wilhonta word of farewell HeeNplans
hat the warrent issued for his arrest
mad no terrorS for him, but that he was
1eiug so maliciously prosecuted that
ne could not slaad the strain and went
0 Canada to try to earn money enough
70 pay his numerous creditors.
"For the benefit Of the interested
parties who know 80 well that ! must
nave either brought thousands with me
II squandered il in riotious living. hc
writes, Il will say that they are very
much mistaken in regard to both sup
POSITIONS Every dollar that | have
AIKEN in has gone to pay my debts and
support my family, and ! can prove il.
crossed the Detroit river with the fab
ious sum OF $l75l cents in nv pocket
md came here 10 avoid the constant
persecution Of certain parties who pre-
vented my supporting my family or
paying my honest debts. Aud as fast
IS economy and hard work will enable
ne TO do so, the parties 10 whom owe
money in Milwaukee will be paid
Phillips writes that his financial em-
larrassment was the result of bad bust
aesS judgment and not OF dishonesty He
lad more on his hands than ne could
ittend to and in consequence many
hings were done carelessly or not at
Ill. and matters went from bad to worse
very rapidly "Mr. Moody proposed
that we employ more experienced
1ookkeeper that we might keep closer
rack OF the business, he writes,
while my proposition was to discharge
be help as close rs possible and for me
10 give up everything outside the bust
ness (including al church and Sunday
school work. and eat and sleep with
ne business until our finances were in
letter condition TO this he objected
N the ground that in case my health
.houd give out, the whole business
1eing dependent on me. would be left
u bad shape The proposition To rm.
ploy the high priced bookkeeper pre-
vailed aud a. look back at it now the
iecision of that matter sealed the fate
# the business; for from that time I'M
I'll the assignment Gas the business af-
,erward snowed) every thing seemed 10
run 10 loss and the accumulation of
.onlid initial debts The c1mprOmise
agreements that made with almost all
our creditors are in existence and can
EASILY be produced. Amounts Of our
Indebtedness If 500 aud under were
paid by 30 per cent cash, except 20 a
.erv few small local creditors; and
amounts over 500 were settled at 80
Der cent, per cent of which was in
lash and the balance in notes The
accounts so purchased were ASST med to
rhos Il Shepard and not to myself
II have heard that it was reported.
IND Your ariclc seemed 10 insnuate
hc same thing, that accounts of our old
irn. under the cOulrol of our assignee,
rad been collected by me and never
accounted for. This is positively false
tud cannot be proven to the value of
me cent Regarding the sale of the
,tock and book accounts to Messrs.
Saveland a. Go by our assignee, MIR
Starkweather, the transaction was per-
ectly legitimate and was recommended
y Mr.. Starkwcather's counsel"
With regard to the Dinaur note,
which is the basis for the warrant,
Phillips enters into a long explanation.
de declares that the note was never
sold outright 10 Mr. Wood, but was
1eld as collateral for $3.50 Whea the
note was paid by the Dinauers, Mr.
Wood declined to exchange the same
tor others that were offered 10 It's stead
md that were good and collectabie.
However, he RENTED sums nj various
times to Mr. Wood, the amounts to
DC endorsed on the Diuauer note. There
IS now a balance OF but 1915; but
what excited the Diuauers, he adds. is
he fact that they heard that Mr.. Wood
had mol made the endorsements on the
note
Pailips explanation of the report
that he sold q Minnesota farmers note
after il had been paid, and also sold
renewal Of that note, given rcvi0usly,
makes him out the victim instead OF The
farmer. lie says he bought an outfit.
Of machinery tor the farmer in his own
name so as 10 obtain the full line OF
goods al wholesale prices. He did this
. matter Of accommodation, and the
npshot was that he had to foot the bill
out Of his own pocket, and blunder OF
the bookkeeper in not taking up the old !
note by putting the new one in place Of
it when il was collaterated, compelled |
him to psy the whole amount ovsr |
again.
In conclusion Philips writes: LET |
me say that do not wish 10 appear as l
trying to justify myself when / have /
been At fault; admit that have been
very careless ia some matters Of bust
ness. my worst fault being in not keep
ing the stub Of nv check book properly
written up and relying on memoran-
nd tlaIlah "a. EL.l.